Taking the lead in our future: 3 South Africans named as Global Leaders in 2024

Jun 20, 2024 12:49:36 PM

"For two decades, the Forum of Young Global Leaders has been at the forefront of cultivating a unique community of leaders who are dedicated to tackling the world's most pressing problems head-on."

By Jessie Taylor

Three South Africans have been named among the World Economic Forum's 2024 most promising Young Global Leaders.

This accolade is awarded to a dynamic and diverse cohort of nearly 90 changemakers under the age of 40, driving impact in public health, economic development, technology, sustainability, and other fields. They join the Forum of Young Global Leaders, whose members have gone on to become Pulitzer winners, UN Goodwill Ambassadors, CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and heads of state.

For two decades, the Forum of Young Global Leaders has been at the forefront of cultivating a unique community of leaders who are dedicated to tackling the world's most pressing problems head-on.

“As we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Forum of Young Global Leaders, we are thrilled to welcome our newest cohort of Young Global Leaders. They represent the future of leadership, and we are confident that their perspectives and innovative ideas will contribute significantly to addressing the world's most pressing challenges,” said Ida Jeng Christensen, Head of the Forum of Young Global Leaders.

As part of the three-year leadership development programme, the Class of 2024 will have access to a range of executive education courses, learning journeys and opportunities to collaborate with trusted peers to support them in accelerating their impact.

“For two decades, we have sought out and nurtured young leaders dedicated to improving the state of the world, and today, we are proud to welcome the latest cohort of Young Global Leaders. The Forum of Young Global Leaders remains steadfast in its mission to foster collaboration and responsible leadership,” said Nicole Schwab, Board Member of the Forum of Young Global Leaders.

The following South Africans have made the list:

Melvyn Lubega, Founder and Chairman of Baobab Capital

Melvyn Lubega is an experienced technology entrepreneur and investor. He is an actuary by training and a Rhodes Scholar.

He won scholarships for his secondary and tertiary education at St John’s College, University of Cape Town and Oxford. He was awarded a fellowship to the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation and was named one of Forbes 30 Under 30.

He founded the Baobab Group in 2015, which now employs over 1 000 people.

One of his most prominent successes is Go1, a leading technology platform used by 17 000 organisations and governments in over 60 countries. Go1 became the first South African unicorn (valued at +$2 billion), attracting over $450 million in investment from Salesforce Ventures and M12 (Microsoft Ventures), among other tier-one international investors.

Melvyn is an experienced thought leader and speaker, both abroad and locally, on digital transformation, the future of work, venture capital, disruptive innovation, corporate governance and business strategy.

He has been recognised by Forbes and was the first African recipient of The Lindas in 2021, Endeavor Global’s most prestigious accolade. The award is given by a community of 2,300 leaders from many of the fastest-growing companies in the world to the person who embodies the spirit of “dreaming big, scaling up and paying it forward”.

Muriel Thabile Ngwato, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Newzroom Afrika

Thabile Ngwato is a dynamic entrepreneur and leader in broadcasting and technology. Her journey reflects a commitment to innovation, diversity and shaping the future of broadcasting and content distribution in South Africa and across the continent.

Muriel has a radio and television background and honed her media platform vision during her tenure at the South African public broadcaster SABC. She is Co-Founder of Rapid Innovation, a connected services agency specialising in innovative broadcasting and content distribution strategies.

Muriel co-founded Newzroom Afrika, the first black and youngest woman to own a commercial TV channel in Africa. The channel broadcasts to 52 African countries. In addition to Newzroom Afrika, she co-founded two other channels: Movie Room and Play Room.

She also founded Bluestream Technologies, a broadcast satellite business, in 2021, making it the only 100% black and woman-owned uplink business in South Africa. Her founding of Bluestream Technologies (a broadcast satellite business) in 2021 solidifies her as one of the most influential players in South Africa’s broadcast and ICT sectors

Muriel has actively contributed to transforming the media and broadcasting landscape in South Africa and Africa at large.

Her numerous awards underscore the impact of her work and the recognition she has garnered in the industry.

Judy Sikuza, Chief Executive Officer of The Mandela Rhodes Foundation

Judy Sikuza is a fervent advocate of education and leadership as catalysts for positive change. A leadership and organisation development specialist, she believes in the power of education and leadership to liberate and create more humane futures.

Beginning her career in the private sector as an Organisation Development practitioner, Judy worked for Absa, then Investec Bank. She also consulted in the development sector for Reos Partners, a social enterprise that helps governments, companies, and civil society organisations make progress on their most important complex challenges. Judy joined The Mandela Rhodes Foundation in 2014, holding manager and director positions as head of the Foundation’s programming, before her appointment as the organisation’s CEO in 2019.

She is a non-executive Board Director of Oxford University Press South Africa, and chairs the Board’s transformation and ethics committee - and is also a member of the 2030 Reading Panel convened by former Executive Director of UN Women, Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, which seeks to influence work being done across sectors to ensure that all children in South Africa learn to read for meaning by 2030.

She is internationally sought-after for her expertise, addresses prestigious events, and contributes thought leadership on resilience, transformation and nation-building. With degrees from Nelson Mandela University and Columbia University, she blends academic excellence with practical experience, embodying a holistic approach to her impactful work.

Among her many achievements, Judy is a mother and a Mount Kilimanjaro summiteer.She was honoured as a Mail & Guardian Top 200 Young South African and an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow. She is an Abe Bailey Fellow to the United Kingdom, and was listed on Sarie magazine’s top 10 women under 30.

Read the Youth Month edition of Public Sector Leaders